Coronavirus

Family violates quarantine, causes mass infection

Family from Jerusalem which returned from South Africa violates quarantine despite testing positive for Omicron variant.

Imposition of Green Pass restrictions at malls postponed

Decision to require Green Passes at malls will not be implemented tomorrow as originally planned following protests from mall owners.

Omicron reaches Knesset

21 Knesset security guards and employees, as well as MK Meir Porush, in isolation after guard tests positive for Omicron variant.

COVID-19: Percentage of positive tests highest in nearly a month

Vast majority of young COVID-19 patients who are seriously ill are completely unvaccinated, Health Ministry says.

Downing Street staff laugh about party that violated COVID rules

Leaked video shows Downing Street staff joking about holding a Christmas party at Number 10 in violation of COVID restrictions.

UK lawmaker apologizes for comparing COVID-19 to Holocaust

UK lawmaker Marcus Fysh apologizes for evoking Nazi Germany in debate over COVID-19 measures.

Blinken cuts trip short following COVID-19 scare

Secretary of State cuts weeklong trip short after member of traveling press pool tests positive for COVID-19.

Israel's list of 'red countries' updated

Ireland, Norway, Spain, Finland, France, Sweden and UAE to be added to list of "red countries" as of Sunday night.

Israel to donate 1 million COVID vaccines to Africa

Israel to donate AstraZeneca vaccines to African countries through Covax Vaccine Distribution Mechanism.

6th grader receives COVID shot without permission from parents

School COVID authority was reportedly not on site, and no official checked whether child had received permission before giving him shot.

US COVID-19 death toll tops 800,000

US accounts for about 15% of the 5.3 million known global deaths from coronavirus.

22 new confirmed Omicron cases in Israel

Number of confirmed cases of Omicron variant in Israel rises to 89.

Starting Friday: Green pass, bracelets required at malls

PM, Health Minister agree on new regulations requiring green passes to enter malls over 10,00 square meters in size.

His mother died, the police still came to check she was isolated

Police come every week to check that deceased woman is abiding by COVID quarantine regulations.

Education Ministry: Coronavirus manager quits position

Official charged with responsibility for in-school vaccination drives announces resignation shortly after Education Min. Dir. Gen. is fired.

Pfizer vaccine prevents 70% of Omicron hospitalizations

New South African study finds Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effective in preventing Omicron hospitalizations.

Confirmed COVID-19 case on PM Bennett's flight to Israel

PM Bennett and entire entourage are quarantining, will undergo another PCR test soon.

US discharges 27 service members who refused vaccine

The Pentagon announced in August it would require service members to receive COVID-19 vaccine.

California announces statewide mask mandate

California to impose statewide mask mandate in all indoor public spaces amid sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.

Shas MK claims Gantz violated quarantine

MK Moshe Arbel claims Defense Minister, who returned from the US, violated isolation by meeting MK from his party.

1st confirmed death from Omicron variant in Britain

New COVID variant which has had much of the world spooked claims its first victim in UK.

Omicron spreading at 'phenomenal rate', UK says

'Tidal wave' of infections, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns, as Omicron spreads across Britain.

Number of new COVID-19 cases dropping?

Health Ministry reports nearly 100 seriously ill COVID-19 patients, with over 50 intubated.

Ex-Health Min. chief: Israel must force people to get vaccinated

'Unvaccinated people should be forced to stay at home, make situation so hard for them they have no choice but to get vaccinated.'

Magen David Adom: In-school vaccination against COVID-19

Magen David Adom team members are providing COVID-19 vaccinations at the schools, to children aged 5-11 years old.

Just 10% of young children in Israel have received COVID vaccine

Latest children's vaccination campaign a failure? Few parents vaccinating their kids for COVID, with lowest numbers in haredi, Arab sectors.

South African President tests positive for COVID-19

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms.

Experts decide against fourth vaccine dose

Health experts decide against recommending shorter time before booster and against fourth vaccine dose.

Education Minister fires ministry chief over vaccines in schools

Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton fires Education Ministry Director-General over his support for holding COVID vaccination drives in schools.

Bennett warns of lockdown if vaccination rates don't rise

Internal Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev suggests imposing green pass on people leaving their homes as Omicron strain spreads.

Bennett falsely claims 2 British boys died of Omicron

PM makes claim that children died from Omicron variant during weekly Cabinet meeting, but no deaths have been confirmed so far.

Coalition leaders meet: 'Red' countries list to be updated often

PM Bennett calls meeting of coalition leaders, holds situational assessment on status of Omicron in Israel.

Bennett weighing additional restrictions on travel abroad

PM Bennett supports banning unvaccinated from flying, Health Ministry opposes.

Study: Booster dose protects against severe illness from Omicron

New research from Sheba Medical Center shows COVID-19 vaccine four times less effective at protecting against Omicron than against Delta.

Health Ministry: 20 new cases of Omicron variant

Number of confirmed cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant rises to 55 with addition of 20 new diagnoses, Health Ministry says.

PM Bennett to HMOs: Increase pace of vaccinations

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks with HMO CEOs and Chairpersons in order to increase pace of vaccinations against coronavirus.

Survey: 20% of 5-to-11-year-olds reported vaccine side effects

Maccabi Healthcare Services survey: 20% of vaccinated children suffered side effects, most often weakness, fatigue or headaches.

Number of Omicron carriers rises to 35

Health Ministry confirms: 14 new Omicron diagnoses, 52 who were possibly exposed to the new COVID-19 variant.

COVID-19 infection coefficient rises to 1.1

All severe coronavirus cases among those ages 40-49 are in unvaccinated individuals, Health Ministry data shows.

WHO: Data suggests Omicron is ‘less severe’

World Health Organization says severe cases of new COVID-19 variant remain low in South Africa.

PM, Health Minister Decide:

Restrictions on air travel to continue for ten days

All travelers returning to Israel - regardless of vaccination status - to be required to self-isolate upon arrival.

Bennett under fire for pushing restrictions on unvaccinated

Hebrew University health expert says people should be convinced, not coerced, into getting vaccinated.

FDA authorizes AstraZeneca's COVID-19 antibody cocktail

FDA authorizes AstraZeneca's antibody cocktail for individuals with immune systems or history of side effects from coronavirus vaccines.

Israeli study:

Booster shot reduces risk of death by 90 percent

Study conducted on people aged 50 and older finds that third dose of Pfizer vaccine reduces the risk of COVID-related death by 90 percent.

Quarantine for Omicron patients to be longer

Patients with Omicron variant to be in quarantine for 14 days instead of 10 due to concern it may be contagious for longer.

Dutch politician sued after comparing restrictions to Holocaust

Jewish organizations in Netherlands file lawsuit against Thierry Bauden for comparing COVID-19 restrictions to the Holocaust.

WHO official: Vaccines should also work against Omicron

Top WHO official says existing vaccines should protect people who contract Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Israel considers vaccinating recovered children

Parents of children ages 5-11 who have recovered from COVID to be allowed to give them COVID vaccine.

Fauci: Omicron variant 'less severe' than Delta

White House infectious disease expert says new COVID variant more infectious but causes less severe influence, more data needed.

Health Minister: 4th vaccine dose for all Israelis a possibility

Minister Nitzan Horowitz says if data shows drop in efficacy of booster shots, an additional booster shot would be authorized.

'The Omicron is mild, banning travel because of it is apartheid'

'No deaths, no hospitalizations'. Nigeria excoriates travel restrictions imposed by Western countries on Africa over Omicron variant.

Haredi Rabbi: Bennett is a liar - but get vaccinated regardless

Senior haredi rabbi calls PM 'a liar', says government untrustworthy, but adds vaccines are obligatory regardless.

The new plan to reduce restrictions for returnees from abroad

PM Bennett, Health Minister Horowitz agree on new regulations to take effect after current restrictions on air travel expire.

Number of Omicron cases rises to 21

Majority of cases among people who returned from abroad and people who either got vaccinated or recovered.

De Blasio announces private sector vaccine mandate

NYC Mayor says beginning December 27 all private sector employees will be required to be vaccinated in response to Omicron variant.

Health Min.: Over 40% of new cases diagnosed in young children

Children 0-9 comprise over 40% of new COVID-19 cases, but just 6.5% of children 5-11 are vaccinated, Health Ministry said.

Health Ministry chief: Mandatory vaccinations a possibility

Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash says universal vaccine mandate currently not necessary - but says it is still on the table.

Israeli Health Ministry begins deliberations on 4th COVID shot

Second Booster: As more cases of Omicron variant discovered across Israel, Health Ministry weighs additional jab.

Fauci: Early feedback on severity of Omicron is 'encouraging'

US top expert on infectious diseases says early indications of severity of Omicron variant are "a bit encouraging".

Israel's Omicron infection total rises to 11

There is a high suspicion of another 24 cases of exposure to the Omicron variant, testing still underway.